Make-A-Wish Foundation sending Isaiah Schutrop to Disney World

TO THE MAGIC KINGDOM — Isaiah Schutrop of New Richland has been awarded a trip to Disney World by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. A celebration, complete with cake, was held Friday, March 20 at NR City Hall. (Star Eagle photo by Troy Thompson)

By TROY THOMPSON

Contributing Writer

The first day of spring typically signals new hope and promises of warmth for those in Minnesota. This year, that day brought some extra hope and warmth to New Richland.

Friends and family members gathered at New Richland City Hall on Friday, March 20, as the Make-A-Wish Foundation held an informal ceremony to help make 5-year-old Isaiah Schutrop’s dream come true. A carefully-crafted cake of the castle at Disney’s Magic Kingdom sat center stage, leaving no doubt what would soon lie in store for Isaiah.

The day sprouted a smile that never seemed to leave Isaiah’s face as he played with his siblings and relatives while waiting to taste the magical cake and thinking of the trip that was soon to come.

 “He’s beyond excited,” said his mother, Monica Schutrop. “The next day he woke up still smiling and said, ‘Mom, that was a fun celebration’.”

It’s a welcome respite from the stress the family has gone through since learning of Isaiah’s diagnosis a little more than a year ago.

 “It (the Make-A-Wish gift) makes you forget what’s wrong, if only for a while,” said Schutrop. “My goodness, I can’t even begin to fathom all they’re doing for us.”

In December of 2013, Isaiah was diagnosed with Stage 3 - Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), which is a child’s form of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It’s a terminal, degenerative condition that has already seen Isaiah lose some coordination and muscular control.

SMA is the leading genetic killer of infants and young children. The disease typically results in the loss of nerves in the spinal cord, as well as a weakness of the muscles connected with those nerves. SMA impacts children’s ability to walk, stand, sit, eat, breathe and even swallow.

“It’s hard, but it doesn’t stop him,” says Schutrop. “There are other kids with Stage 2 and Stage 1 that are worse off and in wheelchairs. He falls a lot right now, but, he’s so independent and headstrong, he just gets back up and keeps going.”

Schutrop says the family, which also includes her husband and Isaiah’s father Dan, and siblings Desiree, Destiny and Cole, try to instill young Isaiah with that independence.

“We don’t use words like ‘can’t’,” she said when referring to his abilities.

A benefit for Isaiah, organized by the New Richland Lions Club, was held on Dec. 7, 2014, and helped to raise money for a wheelchair ramp to be constructed on the Schutrop home when the need should arise.

Schutrop, an assistant chief with the New Richland Ambulance Service, said many of the estimated 400 people in attendance that day were former patients she’s helped throughout the years.

“I can’t say enough about the people of New Richland,” she said. “The community has gone above and beyond at the benefit and then some.”

In addition to the monies raised at the benefit, she said an anonymous donor also gave the family a bounty of Secret Santa gifts over the holidays.

“You don’t realize the impact you make in other people’s lives until you’re in need of help yourself,” she said. “And then, they’re there. The outpouring from the community has really been amazing.”

The support also included helping to put the Schutrops in touch with Make-A-Wish.

“A friend from the area referred us, and once we made contact with Make-A-Wish, it was just….wow, the ball started rolling really fast,” said Schutrop.

Make-A-Wish representative Carol DeKruif carried that ball into New Richland on the first day of spring. With it, she carried an itinerary that lit up Isaiah’s world.

“We’re really excited about awarding this wish to such a wonderful family,” said DeKruif.

And Isaiah was excited as well.

The package includes an overnight stay at the Radisson and Waterpark of America in Bloomington as well as a limousine ride to the airport from the hotel. From there, the Schutrops will enjoy a stay at a Disney resort in Orlando and a whirlwind tour of all the Orlando major attractions including: Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios and SeaWorld.

The family will get VIP treatment at every step along the way.

“Isaiah’s obsessed with Curious George,” said Schutrop, “and he’ll get to meet that character and have breakfast with him.”

Isaiah will also get to feed the dolphins during a show at SeaWorld.

Another surprise came from celebrity chef Guy Fieri. After being contacted by a family friend, Fieri sent a letter to Isaiah along with an autographed picture, which Isaiah opened the day of the ceremony.

“Before he was diagnosed, he had trouble sleeping,” said Schutrop. “Isaiah would always stay up late and want to watch cooking shows that featured the guy with the crazy hair. He loves Guy and watches all his shows.”

Schutrop also said he loves to cook and bake. His favorite dish? The Schutrop Special, a delicious concoction of macaroni and cheese with hot dogs.

She said Isaiah plans to send Fieri a picture of him at Disney World along with a ‘thank you’ when they return from the trip.

On the Make-A-Wish-Minnesota website, it states; “We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.”

“It’s the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had,” said DeKruif while presenting the Isaiah’s wish.

DeKruif said that Isaiah’s trip was the tenth experience that she’s been privileged to award in her work with the program. She says Disney World is a popular trip, but other children have opted to visit Amsterdam, Ireland, or Hawaii.

That DeKruif was the official Make-A-Wish presenter wasn’t lost on Schutrop.

“I had a former patient that I looked after in New Richland who became kind of like my grandpa,” she said. “I became very close to him and his family. When he learned about Isaiah’s diagnosis, he said he’d always be here for us and that he had connections at Make-A-Wish.”

That former patient recently passed away and wasn’t able to attend the award celebration. But as it turns out, DeKruif is the niece of that former patient.

“Of all the presenters in Minnesota and we get matched with her,” said Schutrop, again in disbelief.

Their upcoming trip to Disney World will come at a time when Isaiah can mostly manage to get around on his own, though the effort does get tiring.

 “We wanted to go before Isaiah was in a chair so he could really enjoy the experience,” she said. “Who knows, he may never need a chair, he’s so darn independent.”

Hope and warmth on the first day of spring.

— — —

If you’d like to know more about the Make-A-Wish program, or become a volunteer, visit www.mn.wish.org>mn.wish.org or call 612-767-9474.